Supervisor eyes County Clerk job

Disgusted with the latest in a string of elected officials behaving badly, District 4 County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff said she plans to apply for County Clerk and Registrar of Voters to “bring ethical and moral integrity back to the office.”

Former Clerk Joe Canciamilla resigned suddenly Oct. 31 and faces possible criminal charges for spending more than $130,000 in campaign funds for personal uses in 2011, 2014 and 2015, and was fined $150,000 by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Canciamilla had three years left on his term. The Board of Supervisors will appoint a successor to fill the spot until the 2022 elections.

Canciamillia is the second high profile elected official to resign in disgrace in two years.

Former District Attorney Mark Peterson resigned after the FPPC fined him $45,000 for spending $65,000 of campaign funds on personal uses. Peterson pleaded no contest to perjury and was disbarred.

In June, the Contra Costa County Grand Jury formally accused County Assessor Gus Kramer of “willful and corrupt” misconduct for a history of creating a hostile work environment.

“I’m tired of the legal and ethical problems associated with three of our six department heads,” Mitchoff told The Pioneer.

Mitchoff is in her third term and plans to retire in 2022. She has had two clean audits as supervisor and has served as treasurer for three other candidates, all with clean audits.

“Here’s a way to have an open election in 2022,” Mitchoff said. “Which is the next best thing if we can’t have a special election.”

The Board will announce its decision on Jan. 21, 2020. Should Mitchoff be appointed, Governor Newsom will appoint her successor to serve until the 2022 election.

Concord Councilmember Edi Birsan has signaled his interest if filling Mitchoff’s spot.

“If Karen is appointed, I will pound down the governor’s door,” Birsan said. “I will do anything to get it.”
“I was going to run for it in 2022 anyway.”